Building construction unit



July 23, 1935. G. F. KOTRBATY BUILDING CONSTRUCTION UNIT 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 17, 1934 URN dfiw fidadde \NVENTOR 610 E #0 mas/27y 3 M aw. ATTO RN EY y 23, 1935- G. F. KOTRBATY BUILDING CONSTRUCTION UNIT Filed Oct. 17, 1934 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR Guy lr' Kama/27y ATTORNEY July 23, 1935- G. F. KOTRBATY BUILDING CONSTRUCTION UNIT Filed Oct. 1'7, 1934 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 IINVENTOR 620 E Harman E MM RNEY y 1935- G. F. KOTRBATY 2,009,268

BUILDING CONSTRUCTION UNIT Filed Oct. 17, 1954 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 K I l OOOOOOOOOOOOOUQQ INVENTOR Guy F/famm T) ATTORNEY Patented July 23, E935 BUMJDENG QONSTRUCTIQN UNK'E Guy F. Kotrbaty, liiaurelton, N. Y. Application October 17, 1934, Serial No. 748,650

12 illaims. (Cl. 189-34) This invention relates to improvements in building construction elements, and more particularly to an improved adjustable self-supporting rid member for building walls and like constructions.

In my prior Patents Nos. 1,877,898, 1,965,601, 1,968,045, 1,957,176 and in my pending applications Serial Nos. 704,726, 736,488 and 736,489 there have been shown a plurality of building constructions including preformed, self-supporting structural members having spaced panel portions spaced apart by and secured to edge members having keyways formed therein, the said members being open-ended and being adapted to be locked to like abutted members by means of separate key members. In these constructions the several grid members have been required to be preformed to certain desired dimensions. Where an over-size grid is used in a given space the excess space may be taken up by cutting the panel members lengthwise of the grids and telescoping the panels together after which they are secured by wire ties or spot-welding, riveting or the like, to give the desired out-size member.

It is a feature of the present invention to provide an improved adjustable, telescoping, selfsupporting building unit.

It is also a feature of this invention to provide such an improved telescoping grid unit, having special male and female supporting members adapted to mate and form trussed spacing and supporting members. I

A further feature of novelty of the present invention is the provision of improved means associated with various types of keyways for securing panelling to the sides of the adjustably secured grid members.

Another feature of novelty of the present invention includes the provision of fastening means for panelling of expanded metal lath and other materials comprising clip members or fastening tongues.

It is also a feature of novelty of the present invention to provide adjustable building grid members substantially without projecting parts, whereby to facilitate shipment of same.

These and other desirable features and advantages of the present invention will be illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and described in the specification, certain preferred forms being Illustrated by way of example only, for, since the underlying features and advantages may be incorporated in other specific mechanical structures, it is not intended to be limited to the ones shown, except as such limitations are clearly imposed by the appended claims.

In the drawings, like numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views, of which Fig. 1 is an elevation of the composite supportjoint may be ing and spacing elements of an adjustable grid construction with the panelling removed;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the construction shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a vertical section taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 1, showing the mating parts of the truss members;

Fig. 4 is a. vertical section taken on line d i of Fig. 1, showing the female member;

Fig. 5 is a vertical section taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 1, showing the male member;

Fig. 6 is a section taken on line 60 of Fig. 1, showing the mode of stiffening the truss members;

Fig. 7 is an elevation of an end of atruss member and associated grid stud member;

Fig. 8 is a top plan view of the construction shown in Fig. 7;

Fig. 9 is a view similar to Fig. 7, showing fastening tongues for panelling members;

Fig. 10 is a top plan view of the structure shown in Fig. 9;

Figs. 11 and 13 are views similar to Figs. 7 and 9, showing various composite studs constructions;

Figs. 12 and 14 are, respectively, top plan views of the structures shown in Figs. 11 and 13;

Figf 15 is an elevation, partly in broken section, and partly in phanthom view of a wall with an adjustable grid incorporated therein; and

Fig. 16 is a top plan view of the wall construction shown in Fig. 15.

Referring now to the drawings, the novel adjustable grid of the present invention comprises stud members I 0 having adjustable truss elements 20 secured thereto in a manner to be described more in detail hereinafter. The members or elements 20 comprise female member 2! and male member 22. The members 2! and 22 include top flat portions 23 apertured with oval or other punchings 24 of any suitable dimensions. The panel or strip 23 is provided with spaced, raised edges at either side thereof, designated generally by the numeral 25, which define internal grooves 20, whose function will be considered more in detail later. The member 21 is provided with side portions 21 dependingfrom the edges 25 and terminating in intumed flanges 26 defining other grooves 29. The aprons or side members 21 are apertured, as indicated at 271: to receive fastening means ti', which may comprise bolt and nut assemblies, or rivets. The spacer 32a may be inserted between the flanges or side portions 21 of the members and over the bolts or rivets 32 to maintain the sides in aligned, spaced relation, While a plurality of bolts and nuts have been shown, it will be appreciated that owing to the telescopic features of the truss members, a single bolt and nut may be used to secure the members together. In addition, a permanent made by flowing Tobin bronze and horizontal ribs.

other brazing material between the telescoping i'nembers, or by welding same together after their assembly. The members 23 are provided with elongated side end portions designated generally by the numeral 3b, which members may be provided with curvilinear stiffening ribs or blisters, designated generally by the numeral 39. The panels 2 3 may be curved as indicated at 23a to the abutment oi the truss members against the heyways i l of the stud members iii.

The male members are constructed in substantially the same fashion as the female members it with the exception that the beads and '28 are closed tightly as indicated at 25a and 28a to fit the grooves 2t and 2%, respectively, and permit the members to mate and adjustably fit each other, as desired.

The members it and oi the spacers Ell may be secured to the stud members ill by fitting the sections oi the truss members into the channels it, formed at the edges of the members iii, and permanently fasten same in any suitable manner, as by means of spot or seam. welding, tacit welding, or roll welding, or by brazing, all as indicated generally at in this manner it will be seen that the adjustable or telescopic truss elements 2i and can be rigidly secured to the stud members ill and, due to the engagement of the abutment oi the section 23a of the top portion thereof, together with engagement of the outer edges of the sections a positive locking together of the parts is secured, so that in effect stud members it are each provided with ii... tegral truss members adapted to coact with com" plementary or mating parts of like constructions. By mating the m mbers 26 and snugly, weaving of the parts or the composite truss till is positively eliminated.

The number-oi members 2b used in a given adjustable grid construction will vary according the type of construction used, and the particular wall made, it being preferred to utilize at least two such members at suitable heights to secure a rigid construction and prevent weaving oi the ""gs. i5 and it, the wall may be made of a plurality of abutted grids Gil of uniform size and locked and keyed together in the usual manner. Where a space is left to be filled, which be such size as not to accommodate an extra, standard size grid, as used on a particular con struction, adjustable grids may be made use of. will be seen that the excess width A of a standard grid may be accommodated by telescoping a plurality of members it as fastened to stud members ill and securing them in a fixed telescoped position by the usual fastening means Rigid supports are thereby secured. With such a construction panelling may be laid in place and cut to size. The panelling is preferably oi a horizontal rib type, including horizontal ribs iii and expanded metal lath parts d2 between the These lath panel members and other panels may be secured to the studs by means of locking or fastening tongues, designated generally by the numeral These tongues may be struck out from the gripping edges I2 of the stud members ill. To permit the shipment of members ill without any projecting tongues, the

' members 6d may be formed with apertures ti at the narrow portions thereof, which apertures are adapted to receive a suitable hook tool and be pulled out to receive the panelling when the same is to be set in position on the studs and locked in place thereon to form completed self-supportaooaeee ing grid structures. The adoption oi this iceture permits shipm nt of the members flat, as intimated above. When the lath 5b or other panelling member has been secured in position by the members til, the latter may be crimped in any suitable manner, as by hearing to malre a permanent locking for the lath. W'here desired, the locking tongues may be used as a temporary or partial locking means ior the panelling, the latter being permanently secured in place by welding or brazing, as desired.

The improvements of the present invention are adaptable to all types of composite stud members; thus in Figs. 1, 2, l5 and 16 the stud members iii are the type shown and described in my Patent No. 1,968fl45 and pending application Serial No. 736,488, which is a division of the said patent. The stud members shown in Figs. 74%, inclusive, are shown and claimed in my pending application Serial No. 758.3%.

The flexibility of the truss supporting members as applied to various composite studdings, is shown in Figs. 7 to i l. in Figs. '21 and 8 the members 2b are secured to the outer walls of a modified stud channel member iii, being secured thereto by welding, as indicated generally at "M, the panelling Ell being superposed and secured there to and to the member in in a similar manner. Opposed members it may be locked together by suitable keying members lilo coniormed thereto, as indicated specifically in 3. As previously noted, the members 23 may be conformed to the studding against which they abut.

'in Figs. 9 and 10 there is shown a method oi securing the sections 3i] and the members to the studding by means of the locking tongues which latter may be provided with apertures St to receive hool; tools for springing the members Gill out into positions, when panelling is to be applied thereto or locked in place. in this corn struction the panelling 55] is supported ezrteriorly of the crimping flanges '62 instead of interioriy, as previously indicated. The constructions shown in Figs. 11 to 1d are similar to the ones just described andshow further modified studding, as shown and described in my applications above referred to.

lit will now be seen that there has been provided an improved method of preparing adjustable, telescoping wall members ior building constructions formed oi self-suppcrting grid units, having spaced panels secured to and spaced by end sections, which, in turn, are provided with lreying portions adapted to coact with other like constructions to permit adjacent and abutted building members to be locked together. In the new constructions hereinabove shown, studding members of composite studs and joist members have been disclosed in combination with trussed, telescoping spacer members adapted to be secured to the studs and interlocked at desired unit widths to provide rigid supports for panelling members, which panels are adapted to be directly fastened to the studding oi the adjustable sections to provide completed structural wall units and the like of various non-uniiorm or non-rogue lation sizes.

While'certain novel features of the invention have been disclosed and are pointed out in the annexed claims, it will be understood that vari ous omissions, substitutions and changes may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention.

1' claim: I

1. A building unit comprising a pair of spaced ill panels held apart and spaced by stud elements having slotted cylindrical keyways adapted to receive locking means therein, structural supporting and stiffening members severally secured to and horizontally extending from. the said stud members inwardly of said panels, the panels being secured to and between the said studs and on both sides thereof.

2. A building unit comprising a pair of spaced panels held apart and spaced by stud elements having slotted cylindrical keyways adapted to receive locking means therein, mated structural supporting and stiffening members severally secured to and horizontally extending from the said stud members inwardly of said panels and forming composite truss members, the panels being secured to and between the said studs and on both sides thereof, and enclosing the said supporting members.

3. A building unit comprising a pair of spaced stud members having locking means formed therein, telescoping structural supporting members severally secured to and laterally extending from the said stud members inwardly of the building unit and forming composite truss members, panels secured to and between the said studs and on both sides thereof, and enclosing the said supporting members, and separate locking means for the associated truss members.

4. A composite truss structure for building unit constructions comprising a pair of mated truss members, each said truss member comprising a generally horizontal body portion with depending sides and having extended edges joined to the depending sides by integral arcuate sections, the said extended sides being adapted to be secured to stud members of composite building studs, one of said truss members being grooved internally at the top and bottom of the said sides and a mating truss member being provided with beaded edges at the top and bottom of the said sides, the said beaded edges being adapted to fit in sliding engagement within the grooves of the other said truss member, whereby to form a composite truss member, and all of the said several depending sides being apertured to receive securing means such as bolts and nuts, whereby to permanently lock the composite truss members when suitably adjusted.

5. A building unit comprising a pair of spaced stud members having locking means formed therein and adapted to receive keying means for locking same to like abutting members; panel locking means formed on the lateral surfaces of the said stud members; mated structural supporting members severally secured to and laterally extending from the said stud members inwardly of the building unit and form composite truss members; separate locking means for the associated truss members; and panel members secured to the stud members and on both sides thereof and enclosing the supporting members whereby to form a self-supporting open-ended grid unit.

6. In a constrluction of the type described and claimed in claim 5, the improvements comprising tongues struck out from the stud members and adapted to receive panelling members and lock same in place.

7. In a, construction of the type described and claimed in claim 5, the improvements comprising tongues struck out from the stud members and adapted to receive panelling members and form auxiliary locking means for the said panels.

8. A composite structural spacing and stifien- 3 ing member for building walls formed of selfsupporting wall grids having stud elements interlocked by keying members, these stud members comprising a pair of telescoping channel members in sliding engagement and having adjustable and mating locking means formed therein, the said members being provided further with reinforced end portions having depending sides and adapted to be secured to said structural stud elements.

9. A composite structural spacing and stifiening member for building walls formed of selfsupporting wall grids having stud elements interlocked bykeying members, these stud members comprising a pair of telescoping channel members in sliding engagement and having adjustable and mating locking means formed therein, the said members being apertured along their sides to receive'locking means comprising bolt and nut members,-and the said bolts having associated sleeves extending between the sides of the telescoping members and adapted-to maintain them in spaced relation.

10. An improved wall for buildings comprising a series of abutted and interlocking self-supporting grid members of uniform size, the said grid members being formed of spaced panels secured to and spaced by end stud members having keyways formed therein and adapted to be abutted against keyway sections of like stud members; separate keys fitted in abutted keyways and forming composite stud and stanchion members therewith; and take-up members inserted in said wall section, the said take-up members including the usual studs with keyways and panelling forming side walls therefor together with a plurality of telescoping truss members secured to the studs at various heights thereof and mutually interlocked to prevent weaving of that portion of the wall of which they form a part.

11. An improved wall for buildings comprising a series of abutted and interlocking self-supporting grid members of uniform size, the said grid members being formed of spaced panels secured to and spaced by end stud members having keyways formed therein and adapted to be abutted against keyway sections of like stud members; in abutted keyways and forming composite stud and stanchion members therewith; and take-up members inserted in said wall section, the said take-up members including the usual studs with keyways and panelling forming side walls therefor together with a plurality of telescoping truss members secured to the studs at various heights thereof and mutually interlocked to prevent weaving of that portion of the wall of which they disposed on the sides of the said take-up members and over the said composite truss members, said panelling being secured to the stud members by tongues struck out from the stud members.

12. In composite telescoping structural spacing and stiffening members for building wall constructions formed of self-supporting wall grids having stud elements interlocked by keying members, the said stud elements being provided with central longitudinal keyways and lateral web portions terminating in auxiliary flange keyways having clip sections, the improvements comprising parallel end sections adapted to nest in and be engaged by lateral clip sections of composite stud members and means for securing the said truss sections to the said stud members.

GUY F. KO'I'RBATY.

form a part, and panelling 

